"I wanted--I wanted to show you--show father--that I could--" The image comes into his mind so clearly now that he breaks off, a little taken aback: the throne-room, Asgard, Odin seated. The way Odin takes up space in that throne room, the spear in his hand. His gaze on something far out of reach.

Loki wipes his nose on the back of his sleeve. Then he catches the gesture, grimaces, glares at Thor. Damn it, he had been in control of this conversation just a minute ago. "Asgard would have seen that I am born to be a king!"